[Coco] What would a CoCo successor have to have as a minimum?

[jdaggett at gate.net]

On 27 Nov 2010 at 7:32, Mike Pepe wrote:

> > -----Original Message-----
> 
> > FAT16/FAT32 in 8.3 format. Long file names are not supported. M$
> > proprietary and requires
> > royalties to M$.
>  
> Uh, since when? The VFAT read/write code has been freely available in Linux for, like, ever. Or maybe Linus already paid the royalty?
> 
> Nah.
> 
> -Mike
>


Mike 

A better answer is that the 8.3 directory format is a function of the VDAP and/or V2DAP 
software within the Vinculum device. The dame restrictions were on the the DOS on a CHIP 
IC that has now seem to be discontinued. I do seem to remember the datasheets on the 
DOS on a CHIP stating something to the effect that long file names where proprietary to M$. I 
will have to reinvestigate that again. Vinculum only supports 512 byte sectors and must 
adhere to the AT or  SCSI commands set. The Viculum 2 will support smaller sector sizes 
with a read/write /modify protocol. This will force twice as many reads or writes to a BOMS 
device.

Still usable. It is esentially a DOS on a chip. Maybe the Vinculum 2 firmware can be modified 
to read and write long filenames is uncertain yet. 

I am not sure if M$ patented or copyrighted the long file name algorithm. If patented then it is 
soon to run out. Copyrighted would require royalties to M$ for usage of their algorithm. Now 
Linux is a UNIX derivative and has had long file names before M$ if I remember correctly. 


Maybe this will help clear things up a bit.

james